Withmore,
Did you open the claim against w/c for the other two surgeries? Even if they closed it after they did the surgeries, it will be an extension of that claim...It will not likely be without difficulties as they will not want to pay. But, you sound like you are prepared to take them on.

If you are working and your job is repetative, you maybe opening a claim, I would encourage you to consult an attorney.

THe unneeded surgery is typical in misdiagx TOS victims. BUT, sometimes it does help. THe nerve starts at the top of the cervical spine, C/5/6/7/8 & T/1.

It travels as one long cell from the spine across the trapizius, down the arm and into the hand. Everywhere there is a hinge along the way is a compression site, AN inflamed nerve being bent at the elbow, bent at the wrist, can incite pain.

Double crush or triple crush syndrome.

Your story and experiance is all too familar, and sad. EMG's are NOT always definative in diagx TOS. Most often NOT. The small sensory nerves first affected can not be tested. The later affected larger nerves are tested in EMG's. The larger nerves make the muscle move.

If a flame of a candle is near your hand, the larger nerves respond to tell your arm to jerk back. BUT, if you were burnt and the pain and red inflamations is throbbing and hurts, they are the smaller sensory nerves and not able to be tested by EMG.

On the Forum there is a medical published article from TomTolson that did my EMG/NVC test. He does write on using EMG/NVC test to diagx TOS and how to use the readings..very medical talk. But, good for attorneys and medical persons to reference.

I gave most of this information that you may know already from your research, but for others searching about CT surgeries, and other RSI surgeries.

Excellant thread and thoughts for many diagx with CT and other syndroms.
Surgeons should know of crush syndroms. From a detailed history they should know the odds of the proposed surgery resolving the issues, even if the EMG states carpal or cubital tunnel. Follow the symptoms, test all the way up to the shlouder with reproducing the symptoms.

If you press the elbow and the pain goes to the hand one diagx, but if you then press in the brachial plexus and have pain to the elbow or hand this is something else. The injury or compression is not local and must be ruled in or out prior to surgery. If suspected the higher area is involved through invormed concent; which must be done, the surgeon should disclose that the surgery may help but that it is suspected to be generated from a higher site,

Then the patient can decide to have the surgery that may or may not help, or pursue to more information.

I hope things go smoothly with your workers comp claim, the stress does not help. If you don't have an attorney I would consult one.

Know you have all our support and we will put our boxing gloves on for your too.
In the mean time, try to support your arms, have a chair at work level with your work site. I use biofreeze to help with some achs and pains, lidoderm patches, Using a tennis ball between the wall and shoulders to rub out knots too. IF these are your pain triggers.

Be well,
Di